Books for the Road

Audiobooks such as The Golden Compass make road trips fun for the whole
family.

You and your kids tore through the CD version of Harry Potter's adventures on your last road trip, and now you're engrossed in Tim Curry's recording of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. Here are some other audiobooks that both young and old will not only tolerate but enjoy.

ANNE FRANK: THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL You may have read it as a child, but experiencing this work as an adult is even more gripping.

BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE Don't worry if you missed the recent movie. The novel about motherless Opal Buloni and her dog is better.

BOY Roald Dahl, the genius behind Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,was often a very naughty boy, as he reveals in this wicked, elegant autobiography.

THE GOLDEN COMPASS Fans of Harry Potter can graduate to Philip Pullman's sophisticated fantasy series about spunky Lyra Belacqua, her daemon Pantalaimon, and the mysterious Dust. Bonus: Pullman reads his own work.

RAMONA AND HER MOTHER Beverly Cleary's novels about middle-class family life are both wise and droll. All of Stockard Channing's renditions of the Ramona books are worth seeking out.

Photography by Craig Maxwell

This article was first published in July 2005. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.